ALMA — After Alma's girls claimed its Citizens Bank Airedale Classic championship, the Airedales followed suit later on Friday.
The Airedales opened up a double-digit lead before halftime and maintained a sizable lead throughout the second half as they defeated Lavaca, 52-39, to win the boys championship at Dyer Arena.
With Alma (5-6) hanging on to a 16-15 lead early in the second quarter, Garrison Jensen hit a 3-pointer which started a 10-2 run. Cejay Mann had a 3 of his own during that stretch, and later had a layup in transition in the closing moments of the opening half, as Alma built a 30-19 advantage.
Lavaca (12-4) was able to get within six (34-28) in the third quarter, but Alma ended the span on an 8-2 run to push the lead back into double digits. The Airedales' Tanner Shelton hit a 3 from the top of the key early in the fourth as Alma's lead grew to 13 points, 45-32.
Mann led the Airedales with 15 points, 10 coming in the second quarter, which included hitting a pair of 3's. Jensen added 10 points and converted a pair of 3's.
Brayden Johnson added eight points and 10 rebounds as well for Alma.
All three Golden Arrows who scored made double figures. Ryan Dockery had 16 points and four 3's, Garrett Eck had 13 points and Jordan Fenner had 10.
Alma 38, Heavener 30
GIRLS — The Airedalettes had a rough start to their season prior to the Christmas break.
But they now have some momentum going into the new year, as they won all three games they played at the Airedale Classic to win the tournament. Alma prevailed in Friday's championship game behind a double-double from senior forward Sierra Bailey.
Alma (5-9) was in a 15-all deadlock deep into the second quarter. But Cassidy Cooper untied it with a 3. Then Bailey hit two 3's to push the lead to eight, part of an 11-1 run to end the first half as the Airedalettes forged a 26-16 advantage.
"Sierra got us going with some 3's," Alma coach Codey Mann said. "She's a good player, she can take over a game. She has a tendency to get down on herself at times, but I have a lot of confidence in the world in her, and then Cassidy (Cooper), my point guard, she gets to the (basket) and she makes life easier for everybody else, our shooters."
Bailey added two 3's in the third quarter, including one to beat the buzzer, which made it 32-23, Alma. She finished the game with 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
"I just wanted to play well for my team," Bailey said. "I had a rough night (in Thursday's semifinal win against Elkins), I had seven points and didn't play very well, but coach told me to lock in on defense and that's what I did first.
"Then the offense came easily because I did that (play defense) and I was glad to get the win in front of our home crowd and my team."
The Lady Wolves (3-4) got within five points (35-30) inside the final minute. But Bailey hit both ends of a one-and-one situation with 47 seconds to go, and added another foul shot late for the eventual eight-point margin.
Emily Yandell led Heavener with eight points.
Alma 52, Lavaca 39 (Boys)
Lavaca 10 9 11 9 — 39
Alma 11 19 12 10 — 52
Lavaca: Dockery 16, Eck 13, Fenner 10.
Alma: Mann 15, Jensen 10, Shelton 9, Johnson 8, Wood 4, Stahler 4, Winfrey 2.
Alma 38, Heavener 30 (Girls)
Heavener 9 7 7 7 — 30
Alma 9 17 6 6 — 38
Heavener: Yandell 8, Wilson 7, Crase 7, Taylor 4, Dunnigan 3, Moody 1.
Alma: Bailey 21, Cooper 8, Hoffsommer 6, Gray 3.